REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 95 



The attendance by months was as follows : In 1920— July, 172,500 ; 

 August, 211,600; September, 190,900; October, 323,150; November, 

 104,548; December, 78,050. In 1921— January, 171,776; February, 

 103,375; March, 390,988; April, 193,975; May, 276,475 ; June, 183,500. 



One hundred and twenty-four schools and classes, with a total of 

 13,629 individuals, visited the park during the year. The number 

 is greatly in excess of previous years, which have shown a steady 

 increase. The American Ornithologists' Union, then in convention 

 in Washington, visited the park on November 12, 1920; and the 

 American Society of Mammalogists held an informal meeting, with 

 luncheon, at the superintendent's office May 4, 1921. 



IMPROVEMENTS. 



About 150 chestnut trees, many of large size, that had been killed 

 during the past few years by the prevalent bark disease, were logged 

 during the winter. A small, secondhand sawmill and a shingle mill 

 were purchased at low cost, and 140,000 feet of choice chestnut lum- 

 ber and about 80,000 shingles were salvaged by the operations. The 

 dead chestnut trees were scattered through the undeveloped forest 

 area in the northwestern part of the park, bordering Klingle Road; 

 and as great care was taken in logging, there has resulted very little 

 damage to the beauty of the wood. A few young chestnut trees not 

 yet affected by the blight were left standing. With the sawmill on 

 hand it will be possible to save much choice lumber from time to 

 time as trees die or are removed in the development of the park. 



In continuation of the policy inaugurated two years ago, of widen- 

 ing the main automobile roads crossing the park, the section of road- 

 way between the concourse and the scales near the camel yards and 

 stable was broken up and rebuilt. Other sections of the roads were 

 repaired, and the ford across Rock Creek near Klingle entrance was 

 rebuilt with cement and the approaches improved. A cement side- 

 walk, 10 feet wide, corresponding to the walk on the north side of 

 the entrance road at the Harvard Street gate was constructed on the 

 south side from this entrance to the cement bridge. The number of 

 visitors entering the park by this gate has greatly increased with 

 the development of the Mount Pleasant section of the city, and the 

 increased sidewalk area has been badly needed for several years. 



The great flight cage for large birds has been entirely cleaned, the 

 steel framework and wire covering scraped, and treated to two coats 

 of paint. The roof of the camel and llama house has been repaired ; 

 and a new hot-water heating boiler installed in the monkey house. 



Minor improvements made during the year include Telford pave- 

 ments in several of the paddocks, a shed for tools at the machine 

 shop, preparation of a large paddock for the mountain goats, new 



